CHAPTER XII 



INTESTINAL IRRIGATION IN OBSTRUC- 

 TIONS OF THE COLON 



The subject of per amim irrigation of the intestines is 

 of such great importance as to merit further description 

 than the bare mention in Chapter XL Particularly in 

 the subacute varieties of colic I have been describing will 

 it be found of value. Needless to say, it is obstructions 

 of the colon that will be best benefited by its use. I am 

 not referring simply to the passing into the rectum of a 

 few pints of water with the ordinary enema syringe, but 

 the injecting of several gallons by means of a forced 

 water-supply, and a tube that may be inserted for at 

 least 4 to 6 feet. It is again to Veterinary-Lieutenant- 

 Colonel Fred Smith that we are indebted for this further 

 addition to our knowledge. 



Once or twice in this volume I have referred to im- 

 pacted coils of intestine being found in the pelvis. 

 Whether the obstruction be in the small colon or the 

 large, I have no hesitation whatever in saying that 

 forcible irrigation of the intestines with large quantities 

 of water will do more than anything else to save the 

 patient's life. 



If the obstruction is in the small or single colon the 

 impacted mass is comparatively small in size, usually 



